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Aug. 14, 2008 Edition

~
Marijuana Plants Found by
BCI Spotter ~
Monroe County Deputy Chuck Black
displays some of the
28 young marijuana plants found during an annual BCI
helicopter inspection of the county. Six BCI agents
searched with Monroe County deputies Black, Tracey
Truax, Rick Shipp, Eric Yonally, Jason Rinard, Joe
Kress and Kaiser, the drug dog, forming the ground
crew. According to Black, the plants were found near
Sunfish Creek and on Bent Ridge. Hazy weather
conditions made the search difficult for the spotter
during the 10-hour search. Although small, these
plants could have grown to six feet in height in the
next few months. Black noted that there is no cost to
the county for this service which carries a price tag
of approximately $6,000 plus fuel.
Photo by Martha Ackerman

County
Commissioners signed a resolution Aug. 5 proclaiming August as Child Support
Awareness Month.
Seated from left are commissioners Francis ‘Sonny’ Block, Bill Thompson and
John Pyles. Representatives of the Child Support Enforcement Agency,
standing from
left, Attorney Bill Frank, Tammy Stephens, Jessica Leonard and Robyn Nowak.
Photo by Arlean Selvy

by Arlean Selvy
Publisher
Two resignations were accepted at the
Aug. 5 meeting
of Monroe County commissioners, who also adopted a
resolution proclaiming August as Child Support
Awareness Month.
Accepted were the resignations of
Larry Fisher from
the Airport Authority board and Patrick Martie from
the GMN Tri-County Community Action Commission board.
Fisher thanked commissioners for the
opportunity to
serve. According to Commission President John Pyles,
officials will interview candidates for the board
seat. Information will be posted on the courthouse
bulletin board for two weeks and letters of interest
will be accepted until Aug. 19.
In Martie’s letter of resignation, he
voiced his
support for Gary Hudson to fill his seat. Martie, who
has served since 2003, is leaving the GMN board of
directors to accept a position with the Shoemaker Mine
in Benwood, W.Va.
On a motion by Commissioner Francis
‘Sonny’ Block,
Hudson was appointed to replace Martie.
At the request of Attorney Bill Frank
of the Child
Support Enforcement Agency, commissioners adopted a
resolution proclaiming August as Child Support
Awareness Month.
Child support enforcement agencies
around the state
are conducting activities that emphasize the theme,
“Parenting and Child Support go hand-in-hand.” In a
press release from Debbie Haney, director, Job and
Family Services under which CSEA operates, this year’s
theme focuses on the personal responsibility of
providing children the support they are entitled to
receive. She explained, “In past years, the themes for
Child Support Awareness Month have often focused on
the partnerships we build to collect child support.
This year we feel it especially important to emphasize
to those providing financial and medical support how
important that is to their children, our most precious
resource.”
Beginning this month CSEA implemented
the enforcement
remedy of suspension of driver’s and recreational
licenses of parents who are not supporting their
children as required by law.
Frank noted, “The vast majority of
parents meet their
obligations and are not recognized like they should
be.”
There are about 746 child support
cases in Monroe
County. Ohio has the third largest child support
caseload in the nation and ranks number one in
collections for non-public assistance cases.
Attending the meeting with Frank were
Robyn Nowak and
Tammy Stephens, CSEA case managers, and Jessica
Leonard, unit support worker.
In other matters, Sheriff Tim Price
approached the
board regarding the purchase of a 2005 vehicle from
Knowlton Ford. He said the department is having
problems with the 1998 Dodge van used to transport
prisoners. He reported 207,000 miles on the vehicle,
which also has rusted struts.
Officials took action to vacate the
north end of
TR562 in Benton Twp. from TR571 for 3,380 feet to the
first creek crossing on properties owned by Kenny
Cisler and Gary Raper. The road connects with Benton
Twp. Rd. 51.
Consideration was asked by Spectra
Energy to close
the entire 528 feet of Switzer Township 2182.
According to Pyles, it is not a road and not on the
state highway system. The road is just off SR7 about
two miles south of Powhatan Point. Commissioners will
view the area at 10 a.m. Aug. 26.
Permission was given for Bud Byers to
install a
two-inch gas line through a casing and to bore under
CR76 (Morris Ridge Road) 800 feet northwest of its
intersection with CR27.

by Arlean Selvy
Publisher
Positive reports on the swimming pool
and cable
system were given at the Aug. 4 Woodsfield Village
Council meeting. Council members also heard a report
on cold patching that will cost a few thousand dollars
to redo.
According to Jeff Woodell, village
administrator,
three to five moonlight swims are being held each week
and they have been profitable for the village. Woodell
noted that pool passes do not cover the moonlight
swims.
With regard to finances, Woodell said
the pool, “is
probably in the best shape it’s been in for many, many
years.” He said if it continues on this course, it
will be in the black for the first time in several
years.
In addition to the moonlight swims,
the pool is being
rented at $50 per hour for private parties.
Woodell commended Pool Manager Chris
Tamasovich for
doing a fine job.
The pool will close Aug. 17.
Historically, the pool
closes the day the fair begins.
Earlier this season, one councilman
suggested the
pool be closed because it was costing the village too
much to operate. The suggestion was countered by
Councilwoman Carol Hehr, who said the pool is
something the village can do for the youth. Recent
renovations of the facility were also noted as a
reason to keep it open.
Since the village became owners of
its own TV cable
system, 22 new customers have signed up for cable
service and 15 for internet service. One customer was
lost due to moving out of the area.
He noted employees in the utility
office are working
overtime to keep up with extra work necessitated by
the cable system.
“We re working feverishly to get new
channels,” said
Woodell. “But in all honesty we don’t even have the
existing channels in our name yet.” He noted it is a
very time consuming project.
The street department is patching
holes to make the
street ready for the state to pave SR26 from the
fairgrounds to St. Sylvester Catholic Church. Woodell
told council a state inspector was in and said the
cold mix used to patch several holes during the winter
months will have to be removed and replaced with hot
mix. He noted this will cost a few thousand dollars in
materials. The project was expected to be completed
last week.
Woodell reported on the progress
being made on
placing the handicap ramps and 40 handicap mats on
street corners.
While the corners were being revamped
to state code,
one-inch conduit was installed in preparation for
downtown revitalization. Also installed were the bases
for decorative light posts.
Woodell said there will be decorative
lighting on the
four corners of the square, at Ace Hardware, the
Monroe Bank building and KFC. “We’ll have eight lights
that will be working,” he said.
There will be a light at the Beacon
office as well.
Woodell and Municipal Power Supt.
Floyd Longwell have
been meeting with regard to underground cable service
to the decorative lighting.
He reported wooden poles were removed
at Marden Rehab
and Subway, both on the square, and at Jim Peters’
office on West Court Street.
Nicole Jorris approached council to
follow up on
anything else she may be required to do with regard to
making Orchard Drive a village road.
According to Bill Frank, village
solicitor, council
has ratified that the road has been a village street
all along and she need do nothing else. In a related
matter, Street Supt. Donnie Weber had concerns about
maintenance of the street and how it will accommodate
equipment. Solicitor Frank and Weber were to view the
road following last week’s council meeting.
According to Mayor Bill Bolon a
resolution of
recognition will be registered at the courthouse so
that any future questions about whether the street
belongs to the village will be answered without going
back through many years of records.
Councilwoman Carol Hehr reported she
is working on a
grant for outdoor exercise equipment for the walking
trail as well as Beallsville and Hannibal parks. She
asked council’s approval to put the equipment on the
trail. Although the
exercise stations will cost the
village nothing, she asked that they be responsible
for maintenance, which she said would mean painting in
about 10 years. Council agreed unanimously.
Hehr said the equipment will be an
added attraction
to get people to go out to the walking trail.
Councilwoman Pauline Del-brugge
entered a complaint
about cats in her neighborhood. She said there were
11 cats on her porch and in the yard. The problem was
recognized by other council members.
Village resident Bonnie Porter
reported on unleashed
dogs and dogs which attack pets being walked on a
leash.
Mike Cox asked about the possibility
of getting a
sign indicating hearing impaired children area on
Andover road. Mayor Bolon referred the matter to
council’s safety committee.
Executive sessions were requested by
councilmen Dale
English and Vernon Henthorn.
English asked for a session to
discuss employee
compensation and Henthorn asked for discussion
concerning deteriorated housing. Questioned by the
reason named for going into session, Henthorn said the
matter would come under “imminent court action.”
Councilman Bill Moore questioned the
reasons council
has given in the past for entering executive sessions.
He distributed copies of a document stating subjects
for which council may legally enter into executive
session.
Following the secret sessions, action
was taken to
remove village administrator Jeff Woodell from the
customary probationary period. Council also voted to
increase the administrator’s salary by $100 per month
from $3,300 to $3,400.

Consideration of cemetery records was
discussed at
the Aug. 7 meeting of Clarington village council,
which discussed the Sykes Ridge water project and the
railway along SR7.
Dave Wright was appointed chairman of
council’s
cemetery committee. Other members are Cliff Linigar,
Judy Wiggins, Fiscal Officer Lisa Armann-Blue and
Mayor Lida Conn.
Wright noted a grassy area at the
cemetery used for a
road, and suggested it be used for future burial
plots. The committee will consider the suggestion
during a committee meeting.
Michelle Williams, fiscal assistant,
said she had
been in contact with Bill Brake, engineer for the
Sykes Ridge water project, about moving the booster
station. Williams said she is waiting for invoices and
will forward them to Village Solicitor Harry White.
Councilman Cliff Linigar voiced a
complaint about
flood debris on the railroad tracks on the east side
of the village along the river.
Council will find out who owns the
tracks and ask
that they be cleaned.
Mayor Conn said residents have
asked questions about
the hiring of Armann-Blue to fill the clerk-treasurer
position because she does not reside in Clarington.
Conn explained the village needed a certified public
accountant to be able to handle the accounting of the
village “because we ran into a problem with it.”
She said paperwork was taken to the
board of
elections and on March 1 council passed an ordinance
changing the clerk-treasurer title to fiscal officer.
She said the office is no longer an elected position
but an appointed position.
“The ordinance was passed according
to the Ohio
Revised Code,” said the mayor.
Conn reported that more soil samples
must be done at
the proposed park site on Sunfish Creek. She said it
was learned there’s “all kinds of trash” where former
owners apparently buried garbage. She noted that a
piece of heavy equipment was almost lost as the ground
was so soft from buried trash bags.
Conn said the balance of grant monies
left to do work
at the park is $39,477. She said the village must come
up with a match of $15,000. “We can do that with
in-kind work,” she said.
Conn also noted that Williams will
have a lot of work
to do to help put necessary information together. “The
paperwork is all over the place and we don’t know
where anything is,” she told council. Conn asked that
Williams be paid an additional $500 for the added
work. Council voted 4-0 to pay the $500. Voting yes
were Judy Wiggins, Marvin Jacobs, Beverly Miller and
Liniger. Absent were Joe Smigill and Tessa Linigar.
The next meeting of council is
scheduled for Sept. 4
at 7 p.m.

Village spending, including a bill
from the village’s
insurance company and work done on bleachers at the
football field, appeared to be sore spots during the
Aug. 5 meeting of Powhatan Village Council.
Councilman Don Cavalier questioned
the total in the
general fund - $118,000. “We’ve never been under
$200,000,” he said.
It was noted that $31,000 has been
spent from the
general fund so far this year.
Council later approved a transfer of
$27,000 to the
Street Dept.
In reviewing the treasurer’s report,
council
questioned payments for injunctive relief.
Clerk-treasurer Lisa Armann-Blue explained the
village’s insurance company spent $4,378 for
injunctive relief fees and the village must pay 15
percent, which totals $656.70.
Cavalier requested an executive
session, noting he
had questions about the expenditure. A claim for
injunctive relief was filed by Mayor Ryan Lee early
this year when he fought council about their
appointments made to fill two council vacancies.
According to information gathered
after the meeting,
officials did not discuss Cavalier’s questions during
the executive session which took place later.
Cavalier noted a bill for $1,200
worth of repairs to
the bleachers at the football field. Lee said he
authorized the replacement of some boards.
“Shouldn’t that have been brought to
council for
expenditures?” asked Councilman Sam Armann.
“I can’t see us putting more money
into bleachers
when we don’t use them,” said Cavalier.
Council agreed to see if the school
using the field
for practice would be willing to share in the cost.
Jerry Binni, chairman of council’s
police committee,
said Police Chief Chet Oldfield wants to replace the
department’s tasers. He said one of the units does not
work and noted also that they have only been used for
animal control.
Oldfield requested three taser units
with accessories
at $2,640. On a motion by Binni, council agreed
unanimously to purchase the tasers. Payment is to be
made from the police equipment fund.
Council authorized the mayor to enter
into a contract
with the Switzerland of Ohio school district for a
uniformed police officer at Powhatan Elementary.
George Richardson, school district assistant
administrator, approached council about the matter and
expressed his appreciation for police presence in the
school after the bomb threats last year.
Resident Bob Rush asked council if
they are making
any progress toward eliminating the drainage of rain
water into the sanitary sewer system.
Council noted the runoff water is
going into the
treatment plant and costing the village because the
rain water is treated along with sewage.
Following discussion village Atty.
Charlie Bean
indicated he will draft legislation for offenders.
Permission was granted for Michelle
Williams, village
secretary, to attend a mayor’s court seminar in
Dublin, Ohio.
Lee expressed his appreciation to
Belmont County for
work done in the village by JTPA workers. He also
thanked the volunteer firemen for allowing employees
of the gas company to use the firemen’s room on
Saturday, Aug. 2.
Council entered into an executive
session to discuss
contract negotiations as well as personnel with regard
to disciplinary action.

EDWIN CHARLES HART
Edwin Charles Hart, 49, Macksburg,
died Aug. 10,
2008, at Marietta Memorial Hospital. He was born Dec.
21, 1958, in Cabin Run, Doddridge County, W.Va., a son
of the late Edwin Carl and Mary Jo Lang Hart. Online
guestbook may be signed at www.mcvay-perkins.com

NADA E. BOGER
Nada E. Boger, 92, Powhatan Point,
died Aug. 9, 2008,
at East Ohio Regional Hospital in Martins Ferry. She
was born Oct. 19, 1915, in Powhatan Point, a daughter
of the late Crawford and Anna Crooks Kocher. Share
your thoughts and memories with Nada’s family atwww.altmeyer.com

MILDRED MILHOANMildred Milhoan, 87, Monroe
County Care Center,
Woodsfield, formerly of Beallsville, went home to be
reunited with her loving husband, Mutt on Aug. 10,
2008 at the center. She was born Dec. 1, 1920 in
Belmont, a daughter of the late Herbert and Mamie Ward
Secrest. Send condolences to www.harperfh.net

Hard work means
prosperity; only fools idle away
their time.
People can get many good things by
words they say;
the work of their hands also gives them many benefits.
Hey, how about the gasoline price
yo-yo? Up, down,
up, down, although it did seem to go down a bit
quicker than normal when the price of oil dropped. It
usually moves up as soon as they hear oil is higher
price today. I’m afraid the yo-yo is just spinning on
the end of the string just waiting to climb back up.
Seems like all the higher prices and
change of plans
are blamed on the high price of gasoline, although it
doesn’t seem to have much effect when you are on the
highway. I guess it is true less gasoline is being
used. As a result, there is less money for roads.
Guess what? Our Congress is suggesting an additional
tax on gasoline to make up the difference. How stupid
can you get? Gasoline at its highest price, tax it and
make the price go up. To think we elected them.
Exxon making money faster than they
can count it. I
hope I never have to stop at one of their stations.
Did you happen to see the rainbow
last week? Really
beautiful. Made you think of ROY G BIV, the colors of
a rainbow. I’ve also heard a rainbow is God’s promise
not to destroy the earth with water again.
Is this a modern day youth talking?
“Mom, you really
shouldn’t be outside mowing the lawn in the hot sun.”
“Where’s Dad?”
Our tomatoes are just starting to
turn red. It seems
they have been kind of white for sometime now. There
is still little to compare something to a ripe tomato
just off the vine. It’s just that first tomato is so
slow getting ripe.
The little small ones ripen in a
hurry. We have a
plate full sitting in the kitchen and I pop one about
everytime I walk by.
I think I told you I helped a buddy
haul milk several
times. We sometimes would see tomatoes in a milkhouse
when we were picking up milk cans. We would borrow a
couple or so and get some salt at the next farm.
Speaking of eating, the other day I
was in a doctor’s
office with nothing to do but look through outdated
magazines and I spotted a book about food that had a
big notice on it, “Do not remove this book from the
office.” I thought this really must be important.
Actually I didn’t take the time to
digest much of the
content as it really had the information good and bad
about all kind of food.
Leafing through one leaf at a time,
tuber caught my
eye. Of course, you know, potatoes are the tuber we
eat, prepared any number of ways. This book indicated
you should not eat tubers raw because they contain
some big word that is harmful to you.
I finally found out what’s wrong with
me. I ate too
many raw potatoes growing up. When Mom cooked potatoes
I seldom missed sneaking and eating some of the raw
potatoes she was fixing. I was also known to dig up a
small potato, wipe it off and eat it.
I’ve wondered over and over why
anyone would pull a
push mower. It seems there is a possibility of
tripping and pulling it on top of you. Wearing flip
flops while mowing? The other evening I watched six
motorcycles, 12 riders and no helmets. Good practice?
Do you know you can find some strange
things and
maybe just about anything in stores today? I like to
just look around while Esther is spending our money.
It seems there has been an explosion of energy drinks.
They aren’t cheap either. They are suppose to fill you
with vim and vigor or do about anything. Actually a
good glass of cold water will do about the same thing.
The other day as I was walking by
this display the
word rain in large letters printed on the label of a
bottle caught my eye. I wondered, selling flavored
rainwater now? I didn’t pick up a bottle and read what
it could do for me because I thought someone might
think I was buying some. Flavored rain water. I hope
they didn’t use Old Settler before hand.
In another store I saw flavored water
in small
bottles by Crayola. I guess you should drink Crayola
water while coloring with their crayons. How neat. I
guess people buy the stuff or they would not have it
on the shelves.
James A. Farley said, “This country
is composed of
two kinds of people. One group believes that the
government can support all the citizens. The other
wonders whether all the citizens can support the
government.” Does this remind you of what we’ve been
hearing, reading and seeing on TV?
A conceited person never gets
anywhere because he
thinks he’s already there.
Don’t forget to attend church Sunday.
Bible readings: (Mon.) Psalm
34:11-22; from I
Corinthians (Tues.) 3:10-15; (Wed.) 4:1-5; from
Malachi (Thurs.) 2:17-27; (Fri.) 3:8-12; (Sat.)
3:13-18; (Sun.) 4:1-6.